As the fight against corruption continues, Harare City Council human capital director Cainos Chingombe spent less than 24 hours as a freeman after having been freed by the courts on Thursday before being re-arrested yesterday at Town House.
Special Anti-Corruption Unit head Mr Tabani Mpofu confirmed
the arrest. A well-placed source at Town House said Chingombe was picked up in
the afternoon at the council offices.
“He was picked while having a heads of department meeting.
Information at hand is that Chingombe was arrested on similar charges that he
appeared for before the courts,” said the source.
“The way the matter was handled seems to be questionable as
the courts were alleged to have demanded documentary evidence at the initial
stage of remand.”
Chingombe, who was jointly charged with suspended finance
director Tendai Kwenda on criminal abuse of office charges, had been freed on
Thursday after successfully challenging their placement on remand.
The duo was alleged to have awarded themselves allowances
and retrenchment packages, a move deemed not in tandem with good corporate
governance. But through their lawyer Professor Lovemore Madhuku, the duo
challenged their placement on remand, saying the State’s allegations were
incomplete. Prof Madhuku argued that the State, led by Mr Taddy Kamuriwo, had a
defective charge sheet.
“They also made an error when charging the accused with
fraud. There is no reasonable suspicion made by the State on the charges,” he
said.
In his response, Mr Kamuriwo told the court that Chingombe
and Kwenda allegedly committed the offence as they acted outside the dictates
of their duties.
Harare regional magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa, in her
ruling, said the State failed to establish a nexus between Chingombe, Kwenda
and fraud allegations, which she described as incomplete and meaningless.
Herald
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